But Mr Gorrie argued that his Bill was more suited to the Scottish situation. He said: "If they [the Executive] go down the Blunkett road I will lead the opposition to it, not out of sour grapes but because it seems to me to be wrong.

"Similar laws outlawing incitement to hatred on racial or other grounds have produced virtually no prosecutions. I want the Executive and Parliament to work out a Scottish solution to a Scottish problem."

Mr Gorrie's Bill would make sectarianism and religious hatred an aggravation of existing criminal offences.

The First Minister's official spokesman said: "We welcome Mr Gorrie's consultation document. We aim to bring religious aggravation into the legislation one way or the other."

If the Executive decides to introduce Mr Gorrie's Bill, it would then be considered by Holyrood next September.